The homemade laundry detergent recipes you’ll find in this post are extremely effective, easy to make, and more affordable than store bought detergents. They’re safe to use in HE machines, too (and since you’ll use less detergent per load, each batch will last even longer!) These DIY laundry soap recipes utilize ingredients like baking soda, borax, washing soda, and bars of laundry soap, all of which are great stain removers (and which you may remember from many of my best stain removal tips!)
The first recipe for homemade laundry detergent we’ll cover is an OGT classic. I’ve been using this detergent for over 10 years now, because it’s easy to make, has incredible cleaning power, and doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin like some other detergents do. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that it makes enough laundry detergent for 280 loads for around $50 in supplies (just 18 cents per load, for those keeping track at home!)
In addition to the powdered detergent recipe, this post also includes a trial-size version of that recipe, as well as how-tos for making laundry detergent tablets and a great liquid laundry soap. After all, you can never have too many options in the fight against grass stains, sweat stains, dirt, blood stains, and all the other challenges you face in the laundry room!
What Do People Love About This Homemade Laundry Detergent?
Take a look at what readers who use this recipe have had to say about my homemade powdered laundry detergent:
“I just made this laundry soap last week and I LOVE it! Not only does the recipe make a ton, but the soap smells good and works wonderfully too! I don’t usually leave comments, but I truly wanted to thank you for all the inspiration!”
Michaelle T.
“This homemade laundry detergent works fabulously. It’s cheap to make, and it gets my clothes super clean. Thank you!”
Karen
“This is the best smelling laundry detergent ever! It’s super easy to make and cleans wonderfully. I shared some with my mother-in-law and sister, and they both love the scent too!”
S. Allen
“I LOVE all of your homemade cleaning items, especially the laundry soap. I haven’t bought from a store since the first time I made it; it’s FUN!!”
Cindy R.
Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent
This recipe makes about 35 cups of detergent (around 280 standard wash loads, or 560 HE loads).
Ingredients:
- 3 bars (15 oz) Fels-Naptha laundry soap OR 1 bar Zote OR 3 bars Castile soap
- 1 box (76 oz) borax (20 Mule Team is the most common brand)
- 1 box (55 oz) washing soda
- 2 cups baking soda
- 2 boxes (6 lbs) OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover
- 1–2 bottles (15–30 oz) Purex Crystals in-wash fragrance booster (optional, see below)
Directions:
Step 1 – Grate the Soap
First, you’ll need to break down the bars of soap into fine pieces or pellets. The pieces need to be quite small in order to ensure they’ll be able to dissolve completely in your washing machine.
I usually do this by chopping the soap bars into big chunks, then adding them to the blender cup of my Blendtec with a scoop of OxiClean. Letting my blender do all the work saves me a lot of time and energy, and the OxiClean helps prevent the laundry soap pieces from sticking together and gumming up the blender.
If you don’t have a high-powered blender, you can grind up the soap in your food processor or grate it using a hand-held cheese grater. (Grating soap by hand is a bit of a workout, but it gets the job done!)
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Step 2 – Mix the Ingredients
Next, gather all your detergent ingredients and grab a couple of kitchen trash bags. Pour the grated laundry soap, borax, washing soda, baking soda, OxiClean, and Purex Crystals (if using) into one trash bag, then close the bag and tie it off securely.
Place the tied bag inside the second trash bag, then close and tie off that one too. Then you’ll be able to push, tumble, and roll the bags around to mix all the ingredients together (with no mess to clean up afterward!)
Step 3 – Transfer to a Container
After mixing, cut a hole in the corner of both trash bags and empty the detergent into a large container for storage. (If you live in a humid climate, make sure the container has an airtight lid! You can also toss a few silica gel packets into the detergent to absorb moisture and prevent clumps.
How Much Powdered Detergent Should I Use Per Load?
- Use 2 tablespoons of this homemade laundry detergent per standard wash load, or 2 1/2 tablespoons for large or heavily soiled loads.
- For HE machines, use 1 tablespoon per wash load, or 1 1/2 tablespoons for large or heavily soiled loads.
Note: For best results, add the detergent directly to the wash drum of your washing machine. This will prevent any issues with the soap bits getting stuck or clogging your detergent dispenser.
BONUS: Fels Naptha, Zote & Castile Soap: What’s the Difference?
Fels-Naptha bars are made of soap and talc, and feature a light scent that only lingers on fabrics for a day or so. (You can also use it to wash off oils from poison ivy and other itch-causing plants that have gotten on your clothes and skin, so consider keeping a bar with your camping gear!)
The most common Castile bar soap is Dr. Bonner’s Pure Castile Bar Soap. It’s made from organic vegetable-derived oils, available in a variety of scents, contains no foaming agents, and is vegan and cruelty-free.
Zote is made with beef tallow, coconut oil, and citronella, which gives it a longer-lasting scent than other laundry soaps. There’s also a pink version of Zote that’s supposed to be gentler and better for sensitive skin (though I’ve personally never had issues with any of the laundry bar soaps I’ve tried!)
All three of these are fine for HE machines as none of them produce a lot of suds. Fels Naptha has been used for decades as a pre-treatment for a variety of greasy stains including chocolate, baby formula, and cosmetics.
Homemade Powdered Laundry Soap – Trial-Size Recipe
Interested in trying this homemade powdered detergent, but aren’t ready to commit to making a full batch? This trial-size recipe is perfect for that! It’s also a great option for households that don’t need a huge amount of detergent on hand.
This version of the recipe makes just over 11 cups of detergent, (around 90 standard wash loads, or 180 HE loads).
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Ingredients:
- 1 bar Fels Naptha laundry soap
- 3 cups borax
- 2 cups washing soda
- 3/4 cup baking soda
- 4 1/2 cups OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover
- 1 cup Purex Crystals in-wash fragrance booster (optional)
Directions:
Make according to the directions provided for the full-size recipe above.
Homemade Laundry Detergent Tablets
If you like store-bought detergent pods, consider using the powdered detergent described above to make your own detergent tablets! Because you won’t have to measure out detergent for each wash load, you’ll be less likely to use too much, which means fewer residue issues and less wear on your clothes.
Tablets can also make laundry simpler for teens and husbands, and they’re easier to travel with than liquid detergent — whether you’re traveling to the nearest laundromat or out of the country! Plus, they’re quick and easy to make if you already have a batch of powdered detergent on hand.
How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent Tabs
You’ll need:
- Powdered laundry detergent*
- Spray bottle
- White vinegar
- Bowl
- Tablespoon
- Ice cube tray or silicone mold
Directions:
Pour some white vinegar into a spray bottle, then add about 2 cups of powdered laundry detergent to a mixing bowl. Spray the detergent with vinegar until just damp enough that it forms a clump when you squeeze it in your hand.
Add one heaping tablespoon of the moistened detergent to each cavity of your mold, then press down firmly until the detergent is tightly packed and level.
How Many Laundry Detergent Tabs Should I Use?
- For HE washing machines, use 1 tab per normal-sized load of laundry.
- For standard washing machines, use 2 tabs per normal-sized load.
Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup borax
- 1/2 cup washing soda
- 1/2 cup Dawn dish soap (or liquid Castile soap)
- 4 cups hot water
Directions:
Add the borax, washing soda, and soap to a gallon-sized container (an empty juice or milk carton works great), then add the hot water and shake or stir to dissolve the ingredients. Fill the remaining space in the container with cool water.
The ingredients may settle over time, so give the bottle a good shake before each use. (And since the liquid detergent doesn’t contain OxiClean like the powdered version does, feel free to add a bit of oxygen bleach to your washer along with your detergent when washing whites!)
How Much Liquid Detergent Should I Use?
- For standard washers, use 1/4 cup per normal load (or more for large or heavily-soiled loads).
- For HE washers, use 2 tablespoons per normal load (or more for large or heavily-soiled loads).
A Few Helpful Notes
- All of these detergents are safe to use in front-loading, high-efficiency washers. (The liquid detergent produces little to no suds, so it’s perfect for HE models.)
- For a vegan detergent, use Castile bar soap, rather than Fels-Naptha or Zote.
- Purex Crystals help give homemade laundry detergent a fresh, lasting scent. To avoid synthetic fragrances and chemicals, feel free to leave them out — the detergent will work just fine without them!
- Another fragrance option is to make your own natural scented crystals with essential oils. (Natural fragrances fade faster than synthetic ones do, so you may want to store and add your homemade scent crystals separately from your detergent.)
- If you’re looking for more ways to save money on laundry supplies, consider making homemade dryer sheets.
- For more homemade cleaning supplies, check out my homemade detergent for dishwashers — the ingredients and process are quite similar!
Have you ever tried to make your own laundry detergent?
Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent Recipe
Video
Equipment
- Blender
- Kitchen Knife
- Storage Container
Ingredients
- 15 ounces Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar Soap
- 76 ounces borax
- 55 ounces washing soda
- 2 cups baking soda
- 110 ounces OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover
- 15 ounces Purex Crystals optional
Instructions
- Break down the bars of Fels-Naptha in fine pellets of laundry soap. The pieces need to be small enough that they will dissolve readily in your washing machine.
- Pour the laundry soap pellets, borax, washing soda, baking soda, OxiClean, and Purex Crystals (if using) into a trash bag. Tie it off, put it in another trash bag, and tie off the second bag.
- Roll the bag around the mix, then cut a hole in the corner of both bags and pour the detergent into a big jar or container for storage.
There should be a scent-free version. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can make your own Purex crystals! http://jillee.co/2oNI0ho
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Here’s a post all about washing soda and how it’s different from baking soda :-) http://jillee.co/2oNuTfR
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use this one, but I love them both! It’s just a matter of preference :-) I buy the bar soap at my grocery store – it’s on the top shelf of the laundry aisle.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I make this recipe anyway but in smaller batches. It’s a great recipe. Instead of the Purex Crystals I just use water softener salt as sodium chloride is the main ingredient in Purex Crystals anyway. It’s very cheap by the 40 lb bag and softens my clothes better than the vinegar I was using. Probably any salt will do. You can scent it if you want with essential oils. You’d have to add quite a bit though because even though I scented my salt and it smelled good, it never transferred the scent to my clothes. So, now I just leave it out. I use about 1/8 cup per load in my front loader.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Soda ash and Washing soda are the same. You could have a go at using the pool stuff if u like.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The Washing Soda in the laundry section is an excellent product tho. ( no pool here)
NEVER NEVER use soda ash or washing soda or any other form of sodium carbonate in the kitchen to replace baking soda. It’s not for eating!!
Vinegar in the rinse water. Dry clothes on line in sunshine.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have been using your recipe for over a year and LOVE IT!! The clothes smell wonderful, and they come out nice and clean. Thank you for another wonderful inexpensive solution!!
I love all your posts and your recipes!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can you use it in cold water?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Anything with grated bar soap in it is best dissolved in hot water, then added in to the wash.
Nothing like hanging a load of black clothes out on the line and finding gummy bits of undisolved detergent stuck all over them D:
I use a decommissioned dish brush in the laundry for this task. If you put yr hands in this solution, do so wearing rubber gloves .
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Linda, I dissolve the powder in the bottom of the empty washer in hot water. It only takes a minute or two. Then I switch the temperature control to cold wash/cold rinse and add the clothes.
I also add a splash of white vinegar to the water, and pour an ounce or two into the fabric softener dispenser. Everything always smells cleaner,and I no longer have to use chemical fabric softener or dryer sheets.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is my favorite product from your site, to date. I have not purchased laundry detergent in years and once you posted the the recipe for a year’s worth, I thought it was genius! The detergent works fabulously. It is cheap and the clothes get super clean. Thank you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve made a similar, smaller batch version of this for a while. The last time I made it, I added some essential oil for scent and it worked wonderfully, leaving just a hint of scent on the clothes.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.For several years now I have been a fan of this laundry detergent recipe. A few weeks ago I gave some to my adult son who has suffered from a rash on his lower legs for years. He called the other day to say that since he has been using this the rash is almost gone. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Even if this was not cost effective (though it is) I would still make it because I think it is less harsh on our clothes, our skin and the environment. I will say mine is not as cost effective as most because I am always giving a portion away for someone to try!
By the way, our store carries Zote flakes so I substitute a box of the flakes for two of the Fels Naptha and then just grate one bar of Fels.
Thank you, Jillee, for caring enough to post recipes like this that make a huge difference in so many lives.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks Rebecca! I’m so glad you like it. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I put a bar of soap in the microwave in a large bowl, for only a minute or so (I don’t remember, just watch it). The soap puffs up. I usually have to remove the puffed up part, and microwave what hasn’t puffed up yet again. When it cools down, it disintegrates. Much easier than grating or using a blender or food processor.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I find this so easy to make – I use the food processor and will add some of the borax to help keep the soap from being sticky (and make a finer grain.) This stuff cleans so well and removes odor (dog towels and beds smell good!) Thank you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Does this work well with cold water?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Most of my loads are in cold water.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I made this almost a year and a half ago and since it’s just me I’m still using that original batch. I’ve been making homemade detergent for close to a decade now and I love this recipe. I already knew how it would get my clothes clean but I like how this version incorporates the OxyClean and fragrance crystals. And since it makes a ton I don’t have to worry about running out very often. I highly recommend.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jillee, I have been well pleased with your “recipe” for homemade laundry detergent. I can’t believe how clean our clothes are with only using 2 TBS. per load. Our whole family has allergies, so I am happy when my children and grandchildren visit that this “recipe” is good for your skin. Of course everyone loves to save $$ too!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m so glad you like it! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I was a little on the fence about this but tried it and could not tell any difference between my expensive detergent and the DYI version. That was proof enough for me. My clothes don’t look any different but my wallet does. :) .
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Is it 55oz of oxyclean total or 2 55oz boxes. You only have one box in the photo and 3 bars of felsnaptha and 2 bottles of Pyrex. I’ve been making it for 2 years with 55oz total and just wanted to make sure I was making it properly. We think it works better than the store detergents but I use more than 2TB in my large top loafer. I usually fill it to the 3 line on the oxyclean scoop. I also have heard about grimy clothing with homemade detergent but I do use the extra water button on my washer and 2 rinses because I hate these low water washing machines!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.There’s only one box in the photo because it is a 7 lb box (115 ounces) – if your box is 55 ounces, you should use two of them :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have been using this recipe for over a year and have loved it! But I recently saw a post (from someone selling a different detergent, of course) that said soaps like this were only made for pre-treatment and would actually lock in bacteria and dirt. She posted photos of “stripping” the clothes washed with homemade detergents and they were disgusting. Granted, I could pour dirty water in a picture and post it so who knows! But does anyone know of any truth to the soap trapping theory? I absoltely love making my own detergent so I’m hoping it was hype for a sale!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jill, I’ve been making my own detergent for a few years now and my thought is, if it works for you it’s just fine. I remember as a child, my mother using a wash board with Fels Naptha soap to wash her delicates. Also, both my grandmothers would slice off pieces of a Fels Naptha bar into their wringer washers for their detergent. I haven’t tried the above “new” recipe but make the basic recipe with 1 bar Fels, 1 cup borax and 1 cup washing soda. I add Oxyclean and scent crystals into the washer only if I want. Personally, I think with the vinegar rinse, the clothes come out smelling great without the scent crystals. Just me. :D
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have been making my laundry detergent since April of 2014 and saved £85 in the first year. I also supply my daughter with her laundry detergent, she must save at least £40 per year.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I passed my recipe to a family with 4 kids and they are amazed at the savings. We have had no skin irritations and the washing machine works well…people think I am nuts but it works.
Folks who want to save on household costs should not hesitate to make their laundry detergent.
So glad to hear this Anne!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am interested in making this detergent and have done “loads” (Haha) of research. I noticed that you use two Oxiclean tubs…Is it safe to mix that much? Will I get the same effect with one tub? Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have better results with two tubs, but you can just use one and see how you like it! You can always add more later :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve used this recipe wth no changes and have not noticed fading of colored clothing, if that’s what you mean.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Leave out the borax and use more washing soda. A pool store would have sodium carbonate – washing soda. It’s used as a ph increaser.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Forgot to add, any low moisturizing soap will work. I’d imagine you would be able to find a stain pretreatment bar or even soap flakes. Most hard water soaps are low fat.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do you know about how many cups of oxiclean that is? I buy the big box at sams and its 11.7 lbs (5.31 kg). So I don’t know how much to use.
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